BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — What was supposed to be a rebuilding year turned into more of the same for Eloy Garza. In just his fourth year as a throwing coach for PSJA Southwest, he’s taking athletes to compete at the state meet in Austin for the second time in as many years.
But while Garza returns to Mike A. Myers Stadium with familiar expectations, he does so under a new set of circumstances. Last year saw an experienced senior in Brittany Vielma, one of the Valley’s premier competitors, participate in the shot put and discus. This season finds a pair of fresh faces.
Diego Trevino and Christian Trejo are teammates, but their paths to Austin wind along different roads. Trevino, a freshman, was a diamond in the rough before coming on strong in the shot put near season’s end. Trejo, a junior wheelchair athlete, figured sports would never be an option due to a host of medical issues.
“I always watched sports growing up, and I always wanted to play, but I never thought I could be like them,” Trejo said.
Trejo was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spinal cord. While it severely limits mobility, Trejo is able to walk with a limp. He also has a shunt in his head to drain excess fluid from his brain and underwent a kidney transplant at the age of 13. Trejo also says he suffers from seizures, but hasn’t experienced one in five years.
Trejo is the second Valley wheelchair athlete to compete in the shot put and make an appearance at state — Mission Veterans Memorial’s Zoe Alanis being the first in both instances a season ago. The UIL’s wheelchair division began in 2014.
“Seeing Christian compete really puts a lot of things in perspective,” Garza said. “You realize that there are so many things that we take for granted, like walking. For most of us, we don’t even think about it. But for him, it can be a task to do.
“I’ll never forget, one time he said, ‘Thanks for making me an athlete, coach,’ and I immediately choked up.”
Trejo will compete Friday, entering with a seed distance of 15 feet, 1/2 inch. Garza will compete in a chair donated to Southwest by a Texas organization that promotes athletic endeavors for people with disabilities.
Since he will compete in a seated position, Trejo’s workouts focus on his core and upper body. He says he exercises at school and finds time for himself at home.
“I try to do about five pushups every day by myself,” Trejo said. “They may not sound like much, but for me, it’s a big deal because it can be hard to do.”
While Trejo has acclimated to a sport that was foreign to him at the beginning of the season, Trevino’s freshman year has been about learning the basics.
Though he competed in shot put and discus in middle school, he discounts those years as demonstrations of strength with zero emphasis on technique.
Garza is all about the minutia of throwing, and prides himself on coaching every facet of a throw to a pupil. Whether it’s turning in the ring, coming out of the back with strength and agility, or being nimble enough to avoid foot fouls, Garza brings along athletes in methodical and exact fashion.
“I won’t advance them or show them other elements until they’ve mastered a certain step,” Garza said. “Each part is a building block, and they have to show me that they know what they are doing. I’m not looking at an athlete like Diego as a freshman, but where he’s going to be as a senior.”
If Trevino keeps up at his current pace, he’ll be a formidable thrower by then. In his first year under Garza, he’s gone from throwing below 40 feet to achieving a personal record of 52-05 at the regional meet in San Antonio. Trevino is hitting the weights in preparation for Thursday’s event and is practicing certain stretches without a shot in order to focus on his approach.
Trevino shares the long view of his coach. He will compete against seniors who are throwing three feet beyond his personal best. While Trevino’s goal is to break his record, he’s already scouting competition for the future.
“Next year, I’ll be competing against guys from (Class) 6A,” Trevino said. “Of the juniors who are competing this year, I’d be ranked third or fourth in state. I’m right there. I just have to keep working at it.”